Royal Caribbean returns to New Orleans, adds capacity to Galveston and Miami

After a three-year hiatus, Royal Caribbean International will return to the city of New Orleans, Louisiana with the newly announced repositioning of Vision of the Seas for the 2018-2019 winter season. The 915-foot cruise ship will sail 7-night itineraries to culture-rich destinations across the Bahamas and Yucatan Peninsula. Her 989-foot sister ship Enchantment of the Seas will move from Miami, Florida to join Liberty of the Seas in Galveston, Texas, offering 4- and 5-night Caribbean cruises that will complement Liberty’s popular 7-night Caribbean vacations. The two new offerings bring more options and easy access from the Gulf Coast for adventure-seekers in the region to embark on journeys to world-renowned dive destinations, explore ancient ruins of past civilizations, and discover the natural beauty of rainforests.

Before repositioning to its new home in “The Big Easy” on Dec. 15, 2018, Vision of the Seas will offer two, 16-night sailings through the Panama Canal from Miami to Los Angeles, California and from Los Angeles to New Orleans. This will be the first time in three years that Royal Caribbean will journey through this engineering marvel.

Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas also will be redelpyed in 2018 when the longtime resident of Asia-Pacific returns to the United States to homeport in Miami. Mariner will be the first Voyager-class ship – famous for introducing industry innovations including the rock-climbing wall, ice-skating rink and Royal Promenade – to offer short Caribbean sailings perfect for first-time cruise travelers. The 3- and 4-night itineraries from PortMiami to the Bahamas begin on June 21, 2018, following the ship’s extensive, 32-day revitalization. Prior to going into drydock and her arrival to Miami, Mariner will embark on a previously announced “Global Odyssey,” consisting of three 13- to 15-night sailings from Singapore to Dubai; Dubai to Barcelona; and Barcelona to Miami.

Enchantment of the Seas arrives to Galveston on June 23, 2018. Guests currently booked on Enchantment for sailings departing Miami after June 23 will be contacted individually to transition the original booking to the freshly revitalized Mariner of the Seas from her new homeport in Miami.

Sailings onboard Mariner of the Seas will be available to book on May 1, 2017, Enchantment of the Seas and Vision of the Seas will be available to book as of May 5.